Lettuce Nudi's Anyone?

[Kinetic]

Anybody keep lettuce nudibranchs? I think it's facinating how they take the chloroplasts from algae and use it for making their own energy (sugar?).

I hear they're reef safe, and sorta kinda help with algae maintenance. I just think it'd be a neat addition.

Anyone?

 

[GreshamH]

They tend to get blown about in full blown SPS. They also need more algae then most can provide IME>

 

[Kinetic]

haha blown about, I may have to reconsider with 80x turnover =X

do they also nuke tanks like similar nudis if they die?

 

[JHipkin]

I have one in my 12 gallon nano. It seems to be doing fine.

 

[Kinetic]

does it eat hair algae / other algae?

 

[JHipkin]

It seems to. Travels around a lot. It's a little hard to tell. The one I have isn't very big, about 1.5" long, so its impact is limited.

 

[Kinetic]

awesome. maybe i'll try one of these guys out. ever since I got rid of my crazy emerald crab, my hair algae has started to grow everywhere =/

I've taken a few measures to reduce my phosphates in the meantime, (adding another skimmer, phosphate absorbing media, and bumping flow up to 80x turnover)

but they look so neat! I'll do a bit more research =)

 

[GreshamH]

FWIW, hair algae simply THRIVES in high flow :lol:

 

[Kinetic]

I'm hoping the high flow will help keep detritus from collecting in places and shooting it back into the skimmers =/ also if I go down in my flow, red slime will start coming back =(

goodness, i'm battling a mess! but it's under control

 

[Sparkss]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8469899#post8469899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kinetic
do they also nuke tanks like similar nudis if they die?

No, you're thinking of sea cucumbers and sea apples, nudi's don't do that when they are injured or die

One other thing is they are about like anenomes when it comes to powerheads... they just can't seem to stay away from those fascinating in-tank blenders.......

 

[JHipkin]

One other thing is they are about like anenomes when it comes to powerheads... they just can't seem to stay away from those fascinating in-tank blenders....... [/B]

Mine also really likes the DIY skimmer I made from a cassette case. Whenever I can't locate the little guy I pull the skimmer out, it's held in place by the flow, and there it is. If I place the skimmer on the LR it quickly, well sort of quickly, moves on.

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8471260#post8471260 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sparkss
No, you're thinking of sea cucumbers and sea apples, nudi's don't do that when they are injured or die

One other thing is they are about like anenomes when it comes to powerheads... they just can't seem to stay away from those fascinating in-tank blenders.......

Tom, some do.

But the "lettuce nudi" is just a slug, not even a nudi

 

[Newreeflady]

I had one in a 65g with about 50lb live rock. Did fine for a while, helped with algae a little... eventually just disappeared. I'm not sure they are a long-term captivity candidate.

jme,
-A